Administrative System of the Marathas c21.s2.16

c21.s2.16

Shivaji generally enlisted in his army Marathas of his own race, but in the Peshwa's army were employed men of all races, religions and creeds. Rajputs, Sikhs, Rohillas, Sindhis, Gossains, Karnatakis, Arabs, Abyssinians, Telingas, Bedars and Christian and Shenvi subjects of the Portuguese Government were all welcomed by the Peshwa and his tenants-in-chief. And when conflict with European powers brought home to them the superiority of western discipline and military science, English, French, Portuguese German, Swiss, Italian, American and Armenian adventurers were eagerly employed. They had no common interest with their employers, and the interests of the English officers in the Maratha service were often opposed to those of the state they served. Their intimate knowledge of the country and its defence was therefore used against their former masters when war broke out between the Marathas and the English. Writing about the easy capture of the strong fortress of Koel or Alighar, Thorn remarks—"It should here be observed that the achievement was materially facilitated by the loyal and gallant conduct of Mr. Lucan, a British officer, who had lately quitted the service of Scindiah, to avoid fighting against his country. On joining our army he undertook to lead Colonel Monson to the gate, and point out the road through the fort, which he effected in such a manner as to gain the particular thanks of the commander-in-chief, and the public acknowledgments of the government"¹¹ It was probably to prevent such a betrayal of military secrets that Jaswant Rao Holkar cruelly murdered Majors Vickers, Dodd and Ryan, when they refused to serve against their countrymen. It was natural and honourable on the part of English soldiers to stand by their countrymen in India, but even the French employees in the Maratha army could not always be relied on in a war against the English as Daulat Rao discovered to his cost when Perron and most of his compatriots made their terms with the British government and retired to British territories leaving the trained battalions of Sindhia to be led by their native officers.